Netanyahu Secures Allies in Likud List, Boosts Media Ally

The Likud party announced on Tuesday the names of candidates designated by party chairman Benjamin Netanyahu for protected spots on the Knesset election list. Among those granted protected status is Yaakov Bardugo, a commentator on Channel 14 and a prominent media voice close to Netanyahu, who was placed at the 11th position.

Other protected candidates include Talik Gvili, mother of fallen soldier Ran Gvili, at position 9, and Yitzhak Pundak, whose son was killed in Gaza, at position 29. Reserve soldier Elisha Meddan, who lost his legs in the war and is a founder of the Avigil settlement in the Hebron Hills area, was placed at 15th, and lawyer David Peter at 16th. Peter has represented the government before the Supreme Court and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir in past legal proceedings.

Former MK Eli Goldschmidt, who previously led the Labor Party's Knesset faction, was placed at 26th. Reserve Brigadier General Amir Avivi, founder of the "Hovtahonistim" movement, was initially slated for the 35th position, but Netanyahu announced his protected status was canceled.

The Likud stated that Peter "brings legal depth to his work, and a deep connection between the story of the Jewish people and the State of Israel." Regarding Goldschmidt, the party said he "after years living in the Gaza envelope, and in the wake of the October 7 events, Goldschmidt announced he underwent a process of awakening." This comes despite Goldschmidt's past sharp public criticism of Netanyahu and his wife.

Netanyahu had previously secured protected spots for ministers Israel Katz, Haim Katz, and Gideon Sa'ar. Initial placements had Israel Katz at 4th and Sa'ar at 5th, but these new designations are expected to cause shifts in the final list order.

In a separate development, businessman Oren Dobronsky announced early Tuesday he would not run on the Likud list, despite Netanyahu having offered him a guaranteed spot in the top ten and the role of Minister for Artificial Intelligence. Dobronsky decided to take on the ministerial portfolio from outside the Knesset.